Funding to support hospices and provide end-of-life care across Wales will be announced today .

Health Minister Mark Drakeford will confirm £6.4m for palliative care, which he said would ensure specialist consultant, nurse and health support for palliative care is available.

The Welsh Government will make £2.6m of the funding available specifically for palliative care – which focuses on relieving and preventing suffering of patients, including those nearing the end of their lives – provided by voluntary-sector hospices, while £3.8m will be allocated to health boards.

Professor Drakeford said: “No matter where you live in Wales, patients approaching the end of their lives should have access to consistently good care and support. With advances in modern medicine and treatment, more people live longer with incurable diseases.

"Whether a person wishes to die in hospital, in a hospice or at home, we are providing funding to make sure the right level of professional, caring support is available.

“Where death can be expected, we must be prepared to have honest and open conversations about the end of life – it should not be a taboo subject.”